The 2007-2008 season officially ended for everyone after the TOC. We wanted to catch up with a few of our players to hear their thoughts on the season and the future. Up first is Demetrius Smith.
What about you individually? Do you think you’ve played up to your own expectations? Yes and no.
Which contest this season has been the team’s best accomplishment thus far? When we beat Plainfield at home. We played as a team and a-lot of my teammates had double figures. If we played that way all the time I feel we could of made the states.
Which games or team do you and your teammates consider East Side rival? Irvington
If you could have dinner with one sports star, past or present, who would it be and what would be your first question? I would like to have dinner with Randy Foye because he went to the same high school I go to. I would ask him how he managed to become a man without his parents in his life, and how to become a better basketball player.
What/Who inspires you? My coaches inspires me the most, they push me to become a better student, a better person, and also an athlete.
How did you feel about your season overall? This season was very bad in terms of overall team play. I feel as though we didn’t play up to the East Side standards. Next year hopefully we can start it off early and play with confidence and with that East Side swag.
How did you think you played individually? Honestly I think I played so-so. Physically I played alright but mentally I played bad. This is really the first time I played varsity but I’m getting the feel for the top level in high school basketball.
What was your role on the team? This season I supposed to be a scorer. I ended up being the quiet guy, but I now realize that on the court we all have to communicate in some type of way. I know I have to work on that aspect of my game. Hopefully next year we all can talk to each other and win more games.
What AAU Team do you play for? I play for the New Jersey Panthers.
This is your last summer on the circuit; do you have and expectation for it? I have a lot of expectations. I want this summer to be the best AAU season ever. However it doesn’t come over night so I have to work hard on and off the court. I want to become a better player period, so with this summer I just want to take it day by day and focus on school work and as well as the game of basketball.
What about you individually? Do you think you’ve played up to your own expectations? Yes and no.
Which contest this season has been the team’s best accomplishment thus far? When we beat Plainfield at home. We played as a team and a-lot of my teammates had double figures. If we played that way all the time I feel we could of made the states.
Which games or team do you and your teammates consider East Side rival? Irvington
If you could have dinner with one sports star, past or present, who would it be and what would be your first question? I would like to have dinner with Randy Foye because he went to the same high school I go to. I would ask him how he managed to become a man without his parents in his life, and how to become a better basketball player.
What/Who inspires you? My coaches inspires me the most, they push me to become a better student, a better person, and also an athlete.
How did you feel about your season overall? This season was very bad in terms of overall team play. I feel as though we didn’t play up to the East Side standards. Next year hopefully we can start it off early and play with confidence and with that East Side swag.
How did you think you played individually? Honestly I think I played so-so. Physically I played alright but mentally I played bad. This is really the first time I played varsity but I’m getting the feel for the top level in high school basketball.
What was your role on the team? This season I supposed to be a scorer. I ended up being the quiet guy, but I now realize that on the court we all have to communicate in some type of way. I know I have to work on that aspect of my game. Hopefully next year we all can talk to each other and win more games.
What AAU Team do you play for? I play for the New Jersey Panthers.
This is your last summer on the circuit; do you have and expectation for it? I have a lot of expectations. I want this summer to be the best AAU season ever. However it doesn’t come over night so I have to work hard on and off the court. I want to become a better player period, so with this summer I just want to take it day by day and focus on school work and as well as the game of basketball.
